Friday, February 22, 2002
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Friday, February 22, 2002 |
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Development Authority bristles at overtures for information about tennis center, amphitheater By JOHN
MUNFORD
There are still some hard feelings left over from the failed attempt to wrestle control of Peachtree City's tennis center and amphitheater from the Peachtree City Development Authority. At the authority's regular meeting Monday, it was agreed that the authority wants to work with the city on the issue. But the authority is also concerned with several recent requests for information from city officials, particularly because those requests were made to employees of the tennis center and amphitheater instead of the authority's executive director, Virgil Christian. "I think we need to insist on protocol," said authority member Robert Brooks, noting it would be best to funnel all information requests to Christian. Authority member Scott Bradshaw said he thought the information was sought "to discredit this board" or collect information for the lawsuit that has been filed against the authority by former amphitheater director Kristi Rapson. Rapson, whose husband Steve is currently on the City Council, claims in the federal lawsuit that the authority unfairly paid her in comparison to Christian, who was previously the director of the tennis center. Steve Rapson abstained from the discussion and subsequent vote on Brown's proposal for the sports and entertainment authority at a recent council meeting. The authority also met in executive session to discuss the situation as a legal matter. Authority chairman Tate Godfrey pointed out that the authority has an agreement with the city that spells out exactly how much the city will provide from the hotel-motel tax funds to subsidize the tennis center and amphitheater operations and pay for the $2.5 million expansion of the tennis center. Brown now wants to schedule workshops between council and the authority, along with the city's Recreation Commission and the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. He contends the amphitheater and tennis center should be run by a separate sports and entertainment authority, leaving the development authority to focus solely on economic development. Opponents have argued that the facilities are well-run and therefore the management should not be changed. Though Brown wanted a vote to create the new sports and entertainment authority at the previous council meeting, none was taken as several council members said it would be more appropriate to study the concept further. Although Brown has said he does not want to cut jobs at the tennis center or amphitheater, he would like to see some budget cuts, particularly at the tennis center. The hotel-motel tax funds currently used to subsidize the facilities could be better used for other city projects, he said.
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